Canberra mechanics to receive boost

Michael Gaukroger admits there are many challenges in running a car-repair shop, but he said the largest of them is the competition with the larger players in the market.

"Many [independent mechanics] are losing customers to the car dealers," he said.

Harry's Auto Care owner Michael Gaukroger.

Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong

"Around the Belconnen area in particular, all the mechanics here are suffering a little bit."

The owner of the Belconnen-based Harry's Auto Care said smaller mechanics are often unable to compete with larger dealerships due to being unable receive critical vehicle data.

"We can't get a lot of the vehicle data, so we can't reset simple things like the vehicle's lights, or there are some aspects that only the dealer can access," he said.

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"Often we aren't able to repair it and it has to go back to the dealers."

Mr Gaukroger and an estimated 23,000 independent mechanics could soon be legally required to be given that information from car manufacturers as part of a plan put forward by Labor if it wins the next election.

The Opposition claims car repairs would be made cheaper under the proposal, which was announced last weekend.

Mr Gaukroger said more cars are requiring information from the manufacturers, as technology inside the cars improve.

"If we have to replace a car's computer, we can't fire it up without the software to reprogram it," he said.

"We do have a good range of date from earlier cars, but from 2014 onwards, we're getting a lot more electronic components involved and we can't get the specs as to what we should be working on."

Shadow assistant treasurer and Fenner MP Andrew Leigh said more mechanics could be left in the dark without vital information.

Michael Gaukroger from Harry's Auto Care with Fenner MP Andrew Leigh.

Photo: Sitthixay Ditthavong

"Modern cars are now computers on wheels, and unless mechanics can get the data, it's going to get worse and worse," he said.

"If dealers don't share the data, it will get impossible for independent mechanics."

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has previously called for a similar scheme to be available.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims said earlier this month that a scheme would have to be mandatory, as previous voluntary efforts have failed.